34 



application of 190 pounds of chemical manures, adds wealth to our 

 soils, increases our crops and incomes. There are unpresented 

 factors that disturb the calculation, such as cost of marketing our 

 stock on the one side and the superior value of sale crops grown 

 in any proper rotation here on the other. The balance will fall on 

 the right side when all the other factors are considered. 



I have handled cattle in a very rich section of the Mississippi 

 valley and also in the ranch region, and am successfully building 

 up a New England farm, and do not indulge in forced or merely 

 speculative reasoning. It is possible to grow as much beef per 

 acre in New England, at as good profit to him who produces the 

 food he consumes, as is grown westward. We may feel assured 

 that a higher range of prices is to prevail for reasons stated, 

 namely : — 



1. Their population is increasing rapidly, while beef production 

 is stationary or losing ground. 



2. That the vast free-range area has been absorbed, reached its 

 limit of beef production, and far past it, and is on a heavy decline. 



3. That the corn-growing and beef -fattening area of the West 

 found beef production under past rates unremunerative and reduced 

 its herds. 



4. It may be added that world-wide economic forces — increase 

 of gold per capita, decline in rates of new lands being taken up, 

 increased ratio of urban people, general rise throughout the world 

 of the purchasing power of the masses, and other causes tend to a 

 rise of prices in all farm products. 



Wherefore, then, existing conditions? 



When the free ranges poured their first and fullest products 

 upon us, and the free open prairie of the corn States yielded hay 

 for the taking and our sons and money sought these opportunities 

 and the new life and new industries of our expanding cities, eastern 

 agriculture became discouraged, especially that part of it that felt 

 the keenest edge of competition, — beef, mutton and wool produc- 

 tion. The butter type of cow came in and the beef type went out. 

 In great strides the west passed us in the art of breeding and feed- 

 ing for beef. Outside of the market-gardening area in New Eng- 

 land or in the area where beef making may find an appropriate 

 sphere, agriculture has not kept pace with its opportunities. 



The Essentials of Success. 

 Successful beef production in New England must rest upon — 



1. A more intensive agriculture. 



2. Better bred steers, — the good steer. 



